Pizzeria Farina (Vancouver, Canada)

Pizzeria Farina is a cozy little spot on Main street serving one of the best Neapolitan style pizzas in Vancouver. So good, simple and delicious. The spot is small, minimalist and modern with a general hipster vibe. Many get the pizzas to go since it is very small and so far does not carry a liquor license. However, it does have flat and mineral water on tap which I thought was really creative and a nice touch.  On the night we went their special was mortadella pizza with pistachios! I know, I know you must be surprised at the combination, but I have to say that it was a delicious. Above my head was a bike hanging from the ceiling. It’s a really great little spot and I highly recommend those who love pizza as much as I do to pay it a visit you won’t be disappointed. 

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Banana Leaf Kitsilano (Vancouver, Canada)

I had never tried Malaysian food and have always wanted to try Banana Leaf- the one Malaysian restaurant in Vancouver that has been voted the best year after year. And now that I have finally been I can’t believe I’ve never been there before. Its been around forever and now has four separate locations including the newest addition on Davie St. On this occasion we went to the Kitsilano location. 

Malaysian food is a mixture of culinary tastes from India, China, Thailand and Indonesia. It combines the best of South East Asia, from India’s roti canai (seen below), Singapore’s laksa, to China’s Hainanese chicken rice. 

There is so much selection to choose from so don’t hesitate to ask your server for their favorites. The roti canai- a serving of flaky layered break with curry dip, was a must- so delicious and definitely set the tone for the rest of the meal. In fact I think I filled up quickly on just the roti itself.

Our meal was served very quickly and all of us cleaned our plates in less than minutes!!
Everything was so fresh- all the vegetables in the curry were fresh and crunchy including the okras (one of my favorite vegetables). I would really love to learn to make some of their dishes. In fact it would be great if they would offer some cooking classes. 

For our main dish we ordered the boneless chicken curry, the lamb curry and sole curry. Every single dish was more than amazing. Not that we had any room for dessert but given that our main dishes were so good we had to order dessert which was even better. You MUST try the coconut filled crepes and the deep fried banana. Both are really delicious. I haven’t been to the other locations yet but I will keep my readers posted if and when I do. 


Chicken coconut red curry served with okras, eggplants and yellow/red bell peppers

Coconut crepe crepes….amazing!
Deep Fried Banana served with ice-cream 

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Bel Cafe (Vancouver, Canada)

David Hawksworth’s Bel Cafe opened up last month offering a variety of pastries, sandwiches, macaroons and drinks.  A bit dangerous for me given that I pass by every morning before work and have been tempted   an embarrassing number of times in the mornings to treat myself to Mr. Hawksworth’s fabulous flaky and buttery pain au chocolate creation. Folks- there is nothing more amazing than this pain au chocolate in town!  If anyone disagrees I’d like to hear where they are getting their croissant fix! It is definitely made with butter and although its not so friendly on the calorie side it definitely tastes friendly! 

I’ve also been there for lunch where I had their vegetable soup and ham and cheese sandwich served with a side of cornichon. Again…delicious! We were also treated to their pate au fruis which was sooo good and something I would not have necessarily  selected before but have since purchased a few times.


Bel Cafe brings a touch of a modern Parisian bistro to the heart of downtown Vancouver.   

Ham and Cheese: French ham, emmenthal and dijon 

Photo courtesy of Bel Cafe.com

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Suika- Japanese Izakaya (Vancouver, Canada)

We are so spoiled in Vancouver…on many fronts but particularly on the food front. Thanks to the various immigrant groups that have made this city as colorful as it is today you can have any type of food your little heart desires any time of day and night. I’ve searched the world through and through (excluding Japan) and can hands down guarantee that we have some of the best Japanese Izakayas in the world. This confidence was bolstered by my last visit to a new Izakaya (its been around for 1 year now): Suika Izakaya.
This place was recommended by fellow bloggers. Wanting to try something outside of the downtown core we headed over the bridge (5 minutes over the bridge) to Suika- located on Broadway and Burrard.  It is a great Izakaya place: good food, great service and great ambiance. The decor is really well done. I especially loved the empty sake bottles hanging chandelier.

Tuna Tataki

Lotus Roots- Delicious

Duck

You all know by now that I love everything Japanese so its no surprise to hear that I loved this restaurant from the food, decor and our super sweet Japanese server. We will be back soon Suika (don’t let Guu know okay? It will be our little secret!)

Suika on Urbanspoon
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Le Troquet (Paris, France)


Today I’d like to share with you a long overdue post on one of the most lovely restaurants I visited during my trip to Paris. Le Troquet is one those places that just make me happy, I could’ve eaten there everyday that trip and be extremely content. 


Le Troquet is a small charming restaurant in the 15th with traditional cuisine, and as my local friend told me, always super busy. On the day we visited the place was packed. Lucky us, we managed to get a table without a reservation. Ha! 


The restaurant offers a 3-course menu, but you can also order some extra side dishes. All dishes are written down on chalkboards which together with the friendly service, the very good food and the homely presentation of the dishes themselves give the place an effortless warm French vibe. On the whole, I’d say Le Troquet is a great restaurant for a relaxed, cosy dinner with your date or some good friends. 

Le Troquet
21, Rue François Bonvin
Metro: Sèvres-Lecourbe

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One Saigon (Vancouver, Canada)

Lucky for me, I have a Vietnamese restaurant literally in my backyard. One Saigon is a tiny restaurant offering different specials every day of the week (including phos, Vietnamese sandwiches and shrimp spring rolls). The best part is that it is fast and cheap…making it a great place for a quick work lunch.


One Saigon is located on Hornby street just across from the Vancouver Court House. 

Beef Ball Pho 

One Saigon on Urbanspoon
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Dinner at the Port (Zakynthos, Greece)


Last time we visited our favorite island Zakynthos, we decided to eat at the main port of the island. I’ve passed by this place each and every time I set foot on the island, but had never considered a tavern at this busy transport hub to be a good choice for a nice dinner out. So boy, was I surprised when I noticed the lovely nautical decor, including some amazing vintage pieces I was ready to take home then and there (the radio! the fan!). All this prettiness nicely hidden from the travelers coming and going from the ferries. Our food was well prepared, the wine local and the sunset very agreeable. My favorites: the grilled veggies and the stuffed sardines.

Komis Fish Tavern is not the cheapest option in town, but it’s well worth the experience. Supposedly their bathrooms are a sight in and of itself. I have to admit though that not every guest was as big a fan of two of Ratatouille’s friends checking out the grounds once darkness had set…

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Breakfast with an attitude at the Elbow Room (Vancouver, Canada)

This  restaurant has been around for ages (although it has moved around a few times). It has stood the test of time…even with the development of the Yaletown neighborhood and blocks of old buildings being replaced by shiny new Yaletown condos (including my beloved DV8..sigh).
The experience at the Elbow Room is like no other. As soon as you walk through the doors you are greeted by a group of eclectic servers and hosts. It is the most entertaining dining experience to say the least. Our server was hilarious. They are known for being a tad bit rude and playing around so if you are not in the mood to be humoured you may want to dine somewhere else.
Breakfast at the Elbow Room is one of the best in the city. They offer a wide variety of eggs-benedicts, pancakes and omelets amongst many other dishes. I thought the prices were a bit high given that many breakfast joints offer same if not similar food for way cheaper. However, perhaps they have had to adopt the yaletown mentality on this one. Either way I’m never one to complain about prices when the food is just soooo good. It makes it all worth it. 

On this particular occasion I opted for eggs Benedict topped with blue cheese and cheddar. It was To Die For.  

The Elbow Room Cafe on Urbanspoon
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Attention All Ramen Lovers, have you heard about Motomachi Shokudo? (Vancouver, Canada)

Last night I discovered a secret Japanese gem. I guess I can’t really take credit for discovering it since my fellow foodie/partner in crime took me to this place. For those who know me well, they know that I love all things Asian from Hello Kitty, to any time of day dim sum, Chinese night markets, Japanese animation, and more generally all things Japanese. So it won’t come as a surprise to hear that I have yet again fallen in love with a Japanese restaurant. It’s called Motomachi Shokudo (located on 740 Denman Street between Alberni and Robson) in Vancouver, Canada. It is the newer sister restaurant of Kintaro’s Ramen which is just two doors down.

I tried the spicy chicken ramen, or in other words: a large bowl of deliciousness. This place uses organic ramen and is MSG-Free. The bowl was filled to the rim with lotus root, leeks, bamboo shoots and other vegetable delights. Of course the best part was the ramen noodles and the tasty broth. Definitely one of the best ramen joints I have ever been to, and based on my love of all things Asian you can be sure that I have tried Ramen at many different venues.

 I could not finish my bowl. 🙁

We also tried the Gyoza’s but in all honesty I have tried better. My favorite Gyoza spot in Vancouver is just a few blocks away, Gyoza King. (I’ll definitely have to make a whole new entry for Gyoza King, its one of my favourite spots in Vancouver.) But back to the Ramen at hand:

All in all, Motomachi is a must-try for ramen lovers, especially the spicy chicken ramen.  I will be back to try the other types of ramen bowls (including the black bamboo charcoal ramen). This is a definitive Vancouver-style ramen joint with its own personality, and a bowl that leaves you bursting full (to the point that some may have to pop that top jean button to make more room). Until my next foodasmic experience.




Motomachi Shokudo on Urbanspoon

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The Cicada & The Ant (Athens, Greece)


The Cicada & The Ant (or Ο τζίτζικας κι ο μέρμηγκας in Greek)is a restaurant chain in Athens, with a few in the suburbs and one restaurant smack in the middle of the city centre. If you’re hungry, want a bit of good Greek food and don’t feel like straying too far from Athens’ constitution square, just turn the corner and you’ll find this cozy little place tucked inside a small street (12, Mitropoleos). 


You’ll instantly feel welcome, being offered a glass of raki, some olives and fresh bread. Most of the food on the menu are Greek classics like meatballs and a Greek salad, all of good quality. It includes some surprises as well, like spicy cheeses out of the oven and my personal favorite: a veggie burger made of two thick slices of Mastelo cheese from Chios filled with grilled vegetables. Delicious! 


Prices are very reasonable, albeit a bit pricier than your regular taverna in town. Atmosphere warm and service impeccable. 




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